Two brothers working in the hayfields find their fraternal bond tested by the simmering tension of unexpressed romantic desires. As the sweltering heat of a summer day intensifies, the brothers struggle to reconcile their physical labor with their internal preoccupation with love and companionship. The narrative follows their interactions on the Wookey farm, where external visitors and the natural environment serve as catalysts for their emotional outbursts. The story unfolds with a focus on the psychological undercurrents of rural life, utilizing a third-person perspective to observe the shift from daylight productivity to the intimacy of evening.

Readers frequently highlight the atmospheric quality of the prose, noting how the setting effectively mirrors the internal states of the characters. Discussion often centers on the subtle tension Lawrence builds between the brothers, which serves as a microcosm for broader human desires. Critics often point to the author's ability to elevate a simple rural scene into a complex study of human behavior and emotional repression. The balance between the physical labor of the farm and the psychological depth of the characters remains a primary focus for those analyzing the work's thematic resonance.